Union remote controller, union remote controller information providing system and method for using the same

ABSTRACT

A method of a union remote controller and a union remote controller information providing system and a method for operating the same is disclosed, in which various electronic apparatuses are controlled just by downloading simple remote controller information regardless of whether an electronic apparatus is on the market, kinds, manufacture companies, and model names. The union remote controller includes a data base for storing remote controller information correspondingly to manufacture companies and models; and a server for operating an Internet site which obtains remote controller information provided from manufacture companies of each electronic apparatus, stores them in a data base, and provides remote controller information according to a user&#39;s request. Since it is possible to control multiple electronic apparatuses with one remote controller, and it is also possible to control products which will be on the market later by simply downloading data, there is no temporal and economical inconvenience for a user to maintain a number of remote controllers.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2000-79647 filed on Dec. 21, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a union remote controller, and more particularly, to a union remote controller and a union remote controller information providing system and a method for using the same.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a remote controller is an apparatus which converts an operator's commands into an infrared ray signal of a predetermined code form and transmits the signal, so that an infrared ray receiving terminal of a corresponding electronic apparatus receives and controls the infrared ray signal. At this time, electronic apparatuses have different code systems according to manufacture companies and product models, etc. Also, the electronic apparatuses have different codes according to their function even in case of the same product. Accordingly, electronic apparatuses require different remote controllers according to manufacture companies and product models.

TABLE 1 Code Manufacture companies NEC Samsung/LG/Daewoo . . . domestic companies and TOSHIBA RC5 Each company in Europe ZENITH ZENITH MITSUBISH MITSUBISH . . . . . .

At this time, as shown in Table 1, it can be known that each of manufacture companies uses a different code system.

TABLE 2 Head Pulse Custom Code Custom code Data code Data Code

TABLE 3 Contents of Key Code (HEX) Power 08 TV/Video 0B Multimedia 98 Menu 43 Channel+ 00 Channel− 01 Volume+ 02 Volume− 03 Enter 44 APC 4D

As an example, the NEC code is constructed as shown in Table 2, and more particularly, a detailed remote controller code of the LG TV is constructed as a HEXA code as shown in Table 3.

Accordingly, the codes divided by manufacture companies and functions are converted into infrared rays through a transmitting means in a remote controller, that is, a light emitting diode (LED) when an operator presses a corresponding button of a remote controller, and then input to an infrared ray receiving terminal of a corresponding an electronic apparatus.

Subsequently, the infrared signal received in the infrared ray receiving terminal is decoded, and a microprocessor recognizes corresponding operation commands and controls a relevant structure, thereby performing an operation commanded by an operator.

However, since code systems are different from one another according to manufacture companies and models, separate remote controllers are provided to the corresponding products. In case of a general family, not a certain product but various electronic apparatuses from different manufacture companies are used. Also, at least three remote controllers are used because models and functions may be different from one another even in case of the same manufacture company.

To use multiple remote controllers correspondingly to products troubles a user, and it is also difficult to maintain the multiple remote controllers. Recently, even though union remote controllers for controlling some electronic products by unifying them are on the market, the union remote controllers have limited controlling scopes, thereby causing a problem in that they do not actively cope with codes which will be changed later.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a union remote controller and a union remote controller information providing system and a method for using the same that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a union remote controller and a remote controller information providing system and a method for using the same which controls various electronic apparatuses by simply downloading remote controller code information regardless of whether products have been on the market, kinds, manufacture companies, and model names.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a union remote controller includes a controlling unit having a display means, the controlling unit which is capable of performing a data communication through an Internet and which selects a function between a remote controller function and a telephone function; and an infrared ray transmitting means for transmitting an infrared ray signal according to the remote controller function.

In another aspect of the present invention, a union remote controller information providing system includes a data base for storing remote controller information correspondingly to manufacture companies and models; and a server for operating an Internet site which unifies various remote controller information, stores them in a data base, and provides remote controller information requested by a user.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for using a union remote controller includes the steps of obtaining remote controller information corresponding to an electronic apparatus from a data base in case that a site is connected by a user and a request of remote controller information is accepted for remote controller information of a special electronic apparatus; and transmitting the obtained remote controller information to the corresponding user's terminal.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram showing a construction of a union remote controller information providing system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a construction of a union remote controller using a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a construction of a union remote controller using a general remote controller according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart showing a method for operating a union remote controller information providing system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart showing an operation of a union remote controller according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

As shown in FIG. 1, a union remote controller information providing system according to the present invention includes each manufacture company 11 for requiring remote controller information of the manufacture company 11; a data base (D/B) for storing remote controller information provided from the corresponding manufacture company 11, such as code information for each manufacture company and model and text or graphic information for displaying each function, according to manufacture companies and models; and a server 12 for operating an Internet site which provides remote controller information required through a union remote controller 14 by a user.

At this time, the union remote controller 14 is realized by using a mobile communication terminal or a general remote controller which is one of the most widely used electronic apparatuses.

The mobile communication terminal has an Internet access function and a memory which downloads predetermined information through the Internet access function and stores the downloaded information. Accordingly, the mobile communication terminal can be used as a union remote controller just by adding a means which can transmit an infrared signal according to the various codes.

FIG. 2 illustrates a construction of a union remote controller using a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention. A general mobile communication terminal includes a display unit 21 including a liquid crystal panel and a signal process structure for displaying an image in the liquid crystal panel; a communication module 22 for telephone communication and Internet communication; a user interface unit 23 including a key panel for a user's inputting telephone numbers and various operation commands; a memory 25; and a controlling unit 24 for controlling an operation of the aforementioned construction.

A union remote controller according to the preset invention is constructed by adding a program for selecting and controlling a remote controller function and a telephone function to the controlling unit 24 and by adding an infrared ray transmitting unit 26 for transmitting an infrared ray signal corresponding to a user's operation commands to the remote controller function.

FIG. 3 illustrates a construction of a union remote controller using a general remote controller according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, remote controller information is downloaded by accessing an Internet TV or a PC.

General remote controller includes a user interface unit 31 including a key panel for inputting various function commands; an infrared transmitting unit 34 for transmitting an infrared signal; and a controlling unit 33 for controlling the infrared ray transmitting unit 34 so as to transmit an infrared ray signal corresponding to a user's operation command which is input through the user interface unit 31. A union remote controller according to the present invention is constructed by adding a communication module 32 for receiving remote controller information; a display unit 35 including an image process circuit and a display window such as an LCD for displaying image information about lists of an electronic apparatus and functions of a remote controller which a user wants to control; and a program for selecting and controlling the electronic apparatus.

At this time, the communication module 32 can not perform Internet access and data downloading by a remote controller itself. Accordingly, the communication module 32 is constructed to fit the communication standard of a PC or an Internet TV 41 which is commercially used in most of family.

Meanwhile, another embodiment of a union remote controller according to the present invention using a general remote controller further includes a display means, an Internet access means, and a communication means for data downloading to a general remote controller itself. Also, it further includes a program for controlling operations of the display, Internet access, and data downloading, thereby enabling direct downloading of remote controller information unlike the embodiment of FIG. 3.

A method for operating a union remote controller information providing system will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. A case based on a mobile communication terminal among examples of a union remote controller according to the present invention will be explained.

First of all, the server (or server operator) 12 of FIG. 1 collects various remote controller information (remote controller code information and function information of electronic apparatuses according to each kind and model) and list information of electronic apparatuses corresponding to the remote controller information. Then, the server stores the information in D/B, updates the D/B periodically, and operates an Internet site for providing remote controller information to a user.

Meanwhile, to download the remote controller information, a user accesses the Internet site by using his or her mobile communication terminal, thereby requesting remote controller information (S41).

Accordingly, the server 12 determines whether a request of remote controller information by a user accessed the Internet site is accepted or not (S42).

Subsequently, if the request of remote controller information is accepted as a result of the determination (S42), the server 12 determines whether the request of remote controller information is performed by a user's direct inputting a model name or not (S43).

Then, as a result of the determination (S43), if a user directly inputs a model name, the server 12 searches remote controller information matching to the model name which the user input to a D/B and obtains (S44).

Subsequently, the server 12 transmits the obtained remote controller information to a user's request means, that is a mobile communication terminal (S45).

Meanwhile, as a result of the determination (S43), if it is determined that the use didn't directly input a model name, the server 12 obtains a list of a corresponding electronic apparatus according to a manufacture company and a model in a D/B and transmits to a user's request means, that is a mobile communication terminal (S46). Accordingly, a user selects an electronic apparatus which he or she wants among lists displayed on his or her mobile communication terminal.

Then, the server 12 obtains remote controller information corresponding to an electronic apparatus which the user selected in a D/B and transmits to the user's mobile communication terminal (S47).

Subsequently, the server 12 determines that a user has finished an access to a site (S48). At this time, if the user has not finished an access, the server waits for another request for code information.

Meanwhile, in case that a user accesses a site through a remote controller having an Internet function, an Internet TV, or a PC not a mobile communication terminal, the aforementioned method for operation a remote controller information providing system is same.

Hereinafter, an operation of a union remote controller (a mobile communication terminal, a remote controller having an Internet access function, a remote controller connected to an Internet TV or a PC) according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

A user accesses an Internet site which provides the aforementioned remote controller information (code information and function information) by using a mobile communication terminal, a remote controller having an Internet access function, and a remote controller connected to an Internet TV or a PC (S51). At this time, in a remote controller connected to an Internet TV or a PC, an Internet access is impossible by a remote controller itself, thereby accessing an Internet site through an Internet TV or a PC connected to a remote controller.

Then, the remote controller information is required of the Internet site (S52), and downloads remote controller information transmitted from the Internet site (S53). Since the information request and downloading have already been described with reference to FIG. 4, their description will be omitted. Instead, in a remote controller connected to an Internet TV or a PC, it is required that a program for transmitting the remote controller information downloaded from the Internet site to an Internet TV or a PC to a remote controller should be installed. The program can be provided as a diskette type or a downloading type from a corresponding Internet site.

Accordingly, a user downloads remote controller information through an Internet TV or a PC, and transmits the controller information to a remote controller again by using the program. Otherwise, a user directly transmits the remote controller information to a remote controller through an Internet TV or a PC at the time of downloading.

Subsequently, if a user selects a remote controller mode among menus of a mobile communication terminal (S54), screens relevant to a remote controller operation, that is, screens of product lists corresponding to remote controller information which he or she has downloaded until now are displayed on a display window of a mobile communication terminal. Then, if the user selects one of the products shown on the list screen, various remote controller function keys of a corresponding product are displayed (S55).

Then, if a user selects his or her desired key among function keys displayed on the display window (S56), an infrared ray transmitting unit is operated in a controlling unit so as to generate an infrared ray signal having a code fit to the user, thereby a corresponding infrared signal is output (S57).

For example, in case that a user selects a TV remote controller mode of LG and selects a ‘channel+’ function among functions displayed on an LCD window by using up and down keys of a mobile communication terminal, the controlling unit reads a key code corresponding to a ‘channel+’ of a corresponding model TV of LG among the stored remote controller code information by using a preset application program, so that an infrared ray transmitting unit is operated and an infrared ray signal of a corresponding code is transmitted.

Accordingly, a corresponding electronic apparatus receives an infrared ray signal generated from the mobile communication terminal and decodes, thereby performing a corresponding operation.

In the meantime, if a user does not select a remote controller mode in menus of a mobile communication terminal or does not input a predetermined key on a menu, a general mobile communication terminal function is performed (S58).

The aforementioned operation of a union remote controller of a mobile communication terminal is equally applied between a remote controller having an Internet access function and a remote controller not having an Internet access function except an operation which selects a remote controller mode.

The union remote controller, the union remote controller information providing system and the method for using the same have the following advantages.

First, all kinds of electronic apparatuses can be remotely controlled regardless of manufacture companies and product models, etc. Also, products which will be on the market later can also be controlled through a simple Internet access and a downloading without any correction in hardware. Therefore, a separate remote controller for each product is not required, and there is no temporal and economical inconvenience that may occur in maintaining a number of remote controllers.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art than various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A mobile communication terminal for controlling a plurality of electronic apparatuses, the terminal comprising: a wireless communication module configured to provide a wireless signal to communicate with a server through an internet; a display module; an input module; and a controller configured to: receive remote controller information from the server via the wireless communication module; control the display module to display a first list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses based on the received remote controller information, wherein the list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses includes different kinds of electronic apparatuses, electronic apparatuses from different manufacturers or different electronic apparatus models; select at least one electronic apparatus from the displayed first list based on a first input received from the input module; wirelessly receive information from the server regarding the selected electronic apparatus; control the display module to display a second list of information of electronic apparatuses for which information has been received; selecting one information of the electronic apparatuses from the displayed second list based on a second input received from the input module; and output a control signal for causing the selected one electronic apparatus to perform an operation.
 2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising: a memory configured to store the information of the electronic apparatuses, wherein the stored information includes at least one of remote controller code information and remote controller function information.
 3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input relates to a model name corresponding to the specific electronic apparatus, the model name being directly inputted to the input module by a user.
 4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the first input is a selection from the displayed first list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses by a user.
 5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an infrared ray signal.
 6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller periodically receives the remote controller information from the server via the wireless communication module.
 7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the remote controller information by a user's request from the server via the wireless communication module.
 8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the server receives the remote controller information from a database that stores the remote controller information received from at least one manufacturer.
 9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module provides telephone communication and Internet communication.
 10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising: a transmitting unit for transmitting the control signal.
 11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the displayed second list includes information of electronic apparatuses for which information has been received from the server.
 12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the displayed second list includes information of electronic apparatuses for which information has been received from at least one manufacturer.
 13. A mobile communication terminal for controlling a plurality of electronic apparatuses, comprising: a wireless communication module to provide wireless communication from the wireless communication module to the Internet, the wireless communication module to wirelessly receive remote controller information from a server via the Internet; a display unit to display a list of a plurality of electronic apparatuses based on the received remote controller information, wherein the list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses includes different kinds of electronic apparatuses, electronic apparatuses from different manufacturers or different electronic apparatus models; a user interface to receive inputs; and a controller to: control the display unit to display the list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses, control the wireless communication unit to send a signal regarding a first one of the displayed electronic apparatuses, receive and store remote controller function information regarding the first one of the displayed electronic apparatuses, control the wireless communication unit to send a signal regarding a second one of the displayed electronic apparatuses, receive and store remote controller function information regarding the second one of the displayed electronic apparatuses, control the display to display the stored remote controller function information of at least the first and second ones of the electronic apparatuses, select a specific one of the displayed remote controller function information based on an input from the user interface, and output a remote control signal relating to the specific one of the displayed remote controller function information such that the corresponding electronic apparatus to perform an operation.
 14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, further comprising: a memory to store the remote controller function information, wherein the stored remote controller information includes remote controller code information.
 15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the signal sent based on the first one of the displayed electronic apparatuses relates to a model name, the model name being directly inputted to the user interface by a user.
 16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the signal sent based on the first one of the displayed electronic apparatuses relates to a selection by a user from the displayed list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses.
 17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the remote control signal is an infrared ray signal.
 18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller periodically receives the remote controller information from the server via the wireless communication module.
 19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller receives the remote controller information by a user's request from the server via the wireless communication module.
 20. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the server receives the remote controller information from a database that stores the remote controller information received from at least one manufacturer.
 21. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication module provides telephone communication and Internet communication.
 22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, further comprising: a transmitting unit for transmitting the remote control signal.
 23. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the stored remote controller function information is received from the server.
 24. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the stored remote controller function information is received from at least one manufacturer. 